Diffusion-battery



(No Model.)

W. GOLDING. DIFFUSION BATTERY.

No. 405,472. Patented June 18, 1889.

WITNESSES. M/VE/VTOB: w ymg w BY E A TTORNEYS.

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"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GOLDING, OF NEXV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

DIFFUSION-BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,472, dated June 18,1889.

Application filed September 5, 1888- $erial No. 284,614. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GOLDING, of New Orleans, in the parish ofOrleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Diffusion-Batteries for Extracting Sugar, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to diffu sion-batteries for extracting sugar, inwhich, as heretofore constructed, the cane after being sliced or cutinto chips is thrown into a series of cells or tanks forming thebattery, and which are closed by a tight-fitting cap or cover. Hot Waterunder pressure is then admitted to the first tank or cell and caused toflow successively through the other tanks or cells, and when the lastcell is full the first cell or tank is discharged and refilled, and theoperation repeated. Heaters have been placed between the tanks to heatthe juice as it passes from one tank to another, and the discharge hasusually been made through a drop-bottom or through side doors applied tothe tanks. In such construction of the battery and mode of operationthere is necessarily much water charged with the sugar run off with therefuse cane or bagasse, and efforts have been made to remedy this inpart by saving the wa ter remaining in the last tank and forcing it outby compressed air. The spent cane material has also been discharged insuch a wet and sloppy condition as to be unfit either for use as fuel oras a fertilizer, and it has been nec essary to cart it away at muchexpense. There has also been much sugar left in the refuse by reason ofthe imperfect circulation of the water through the tanks, inasmuch asthe fluid naturally travels or circulates through the course of leastresistance, and so escapes contact with chips lying out of the freecourse of circulation.

My invention has for its object the remedying of these and otherdefects; and it consists in certain novel constructions and combinationsof parts in a diffusion-battery for the purpose named, and in which thecells or tanks are in the form of cast-iron or other suitable cylindersbored out and fitted with pistons and heads, substantially ashereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims, and whereby anapparatus is produced that will provide for perfect circulation, forheat ing the fluid in each cell or tank, for pressing the last orremaining water out of the cane refuse or bagasse, thus saving the sugarby retaining the water in the tank when discharging the bagasse, anddelivering the ba gasse in a dry condition.

Reference is to behad to the accompanying drawing, forming apart of thisspecification, in which the figure represents apartially-sectionalelevation of an apparatus embodying my invention, the same showing adiffusion battery of three cells, tanks, or cylinders; but the inventionis not restricted to any number of cells or diffusion-chambers.

A Aindicate the diffusion cells or chambers, each of which is in theform of an upright cast-iron or other suitable cylinder, and each ofwhich is of similar construction and provided with similar attachmentsor adjuncts. These cylinders A are closed at their bottoms, but fittedwith a removable coverB on top, for feeding in the split cane or chipsand for discharging the cane refuse orbagasse, said covers being closedby acentral screw or any other suitable means. Said cylinders are boredout or otherwise suitably finished on their inside to provide for theworking of pistons 0 within them, each of said. pistons being raised toeffect the discharge by a hydraulic device beneath, consisting of acylinder D, piston l), and rod 0, connecting said piston b with thepiston O in each cylinder A.

Cast around the upper and lower ends of each cylinder are hollow belts(I, made to communicate with each cylinder A, above and below, bycircumferential series of apertures c, which have the effect of causingthe fiuid to enter from all directions centripetally and to dischargecentrifugally in all directions, thus effecting a perfect circulation.The water for producing the diffusion enters and is discharged from tankto tank or cell to cell, as heretofore, pipes f fitted with valves gconnecting the belt on the upper end of one cylinder with the belt onthe lower end of the next cylinder but instead of the juice being heatedbetween the cells it is heated in each cylinder itself by a coils,arranged in the bottom thereof, and through which any suitable heatingfluid, gas, or vapor may e passed.

The discharge of the juice or fluid from the one cylinder to the otheris through the up- Patent, is

per perforations e in the cylinders, the piston b, as it rises in eachhydraulic cylinder D, forcing all the running water into the next tank,or at least as much as is desired thereof, any remaining fluid beingreturned from the upper to the lower end of the cylinder by apassover-pipe h upon opening a valve 1' controlling the latter.

The pressure applied to each hydraulic cylinder D should be sufficientto press all the juice out of the sliced or cut cane, and when the coverB of the cylinder is removed to discharge the bagasse or spent canethrough the top of the cylinder in a comparatively dry condition readyfor use as fuel or as a fertilizer, as desired. Little or no water willbe discharged while doing this, and as a consequence little or no sugarwill be lost.

The piston C of each dilfusion cell or cylinder A is fitted with valves7t, controlling apertures through the piston and opening upward, toallow of the passage of the fluid through the piston in'the downstrokeof the latter, and over said valves is arranged a perforated shield ordistributer Z, that allows of the juice passing through the piston to bedivided into a number of small streamsnvhereb y the circulation of thefluid is improved or increased.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, anddcsire tosecure by Letters 1. In diffusion-batteries for extracting sugar, thecombination of a series of cells or diffusion-chambers composed ofupright cylinders connected the lower end of one cylinder with the upperend of an adjacent cylinder, opening and closing covers applied to theupper ends of the cylinders, perforated pistons fitting said cylinders,provided with one or more valves operating to allow of the passage offluid through the pistons in their downstroke, and means for operatingsaid pistons, substantially as specified.

2. In a diffusion-battery for extracting sugar, the cylinders A,constructed with hollow belts d at their upper and lower ends incircumferential communication with the cylinder by a series of aperturese, in combination with the connecting-pipes f between the cylinders anda perforated reciprocating piston O in each cylinder having valves is,and a perforated shield or distributer Z over said valves, essentiallyas described.

3.- The passover-pipes h and valves 2', in combination with thecylinders A, having opening and closing covers B at their upper ends,the pipes f, connecting said cylinders, and a perforated reciprocatingpiston O in each cylinder fitted with valves 76, substantially asspecified.

4. In a diffusion-battery for extracting sugar, the combination of thecylinders A A, having opening and closing covers applied to their upperends, and hollow belts (Z at their opposite ends in communication witheach cylinder circumferentially by apertures e, the pipes f, connectingsaid cylinders, the perforated piston O in each cylinder having valvesis and a perforated shield or distributer Z, and a hydraulic deviceconnected with said piston and operating to raise it, essentially asherein set forth.

WM. GOLDING.

Witnesses:

NATHAN STERN, WM. WRIGHT.

